Senate Recap for Oct. 21

In an 11-7 vote, the Associated Students of the University of Nevada voted to change the rules for legislative interns in the Statutes of the Associated Students.

Though it was initially an open-and-shut procedural vote, senators quickly began to split over a disagreement surrounding a provision in the bill that requires interns to be present at at least one senate meeting. The seven senators who voted against the measure felt that interns, who often go on to run for senate themselves, should be required to attend at least two or three meetings.

“The last thing I would want is for an intern to say, ‘well that’s annoying,’” said Sen. Sadie Fienberg of the School of Journalism. “I would only want someone to be an intern if they’re willing to put out the effort and if they’re willing to show up. The fact that there’s only a couple [interns] here right now and none of them even have anything to say about [the bill] just shows that they need to come to more senate meetings.”

The bill’s author, Sen. Millie Carro of the College of Education and head of the internship program, explained that the bill was worded in such a way to provide leeway for interns who might have class during meetings. Even so, senators went back and forth on the issue for more than 15 minutes before ending the discussion and putting it to a vote.

RESOLUTIONS

Trees, research and pedestrians receive ASUN’s blessing

In a unanimous vote, the senate approved two resolutions dealing with trees on campus. Both resolutions were written by Sen. Cecilia Cervantes of the College of Liberal Arts. The first put ASUN support behind efforts to stop erosion near the intramural fields by planting trees. The second would help label some of the 3,300 trees on the University of Nevada, Reno’s campus.

In terms of research, the senate passed another piece of legislation in favor of ASUN funding for research opportunities abroad. The resolution followed another bill that was passed two weeks ago that allotted $10,000 of ASUN funds for research opportunities abroad. Because the former was actual binding legislation, this resolution was little more than a final affirmation of ASUN’s intent to support research.

Finally, the senate passed a resolution in favor of creating a pedestrian-friendly campus. The resolution, authored by Sen. Rachel Lucas of the College of Engineering, was fairly cut-and-dry. The two-page document listed the various efforts by the university to increase pedestrian safety and called for more of the same kind of efforts.

Jacob Solis can be reached at jsolis@sagebrush.unr.edu and on Twitter @TheSagebrush.